“Okay what is it?” Lux asked the invisible person. He paused and listened. “Why the hell would I do that?!” Lux snapped. He paused again looking frustrated but continued to listen. He then seemed to fall into contemplation for a moment then softened. “I don't know how to do that.” He said finally he seemed to listen more than turned away from whoever he was seeing behind Remington. It was a long moment before he spoke again.

  “I don't think this is a good idea.” Lux said. He paused again and soon he began to look emotional. He returned to what he was doing, crumbling the paper and throwing it away and taking out a different sheet of wrinkled paper and starting to write. He began to look frantic and scribbling faster. Only a moment later he was frustrated and began ripping up the paper angrily.

  “I don't think this is going to work! No It's not! Just shut up! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!” He covered his ears with his hands as if to block the voices out. He was now audibly crying. Remington was watching him carefully then came over in concern wanting to comfort him. He slowly reached out and placed a hand on Lux's shoulder and he immediately jumped at the contact.

  “Shit Remington! I forgot you were here!” He shrieked. Remington gently rubbed his back now, noticing that he was shivering and very on edge.

  “I'm sorry. Are you okay?” Remington said softly. Lux mumbled to himself quickly but it only sounded like gibberish at first and he was getting angry and the words became more intelligible.

  “……and I'm trying to write this fucking letter and it's just not fucking working! Now I am just freaking out because if I can't write the letter perfectly then I can't fucking kill myself!” Lux began to crumble into the desk and sob. Remington continued to comfort him. “It's just so hard to do it when the shit I write doesn't sound good and I don't have anyone that would even care, so I don't know what to write and it all just ends up sounding like garbage! Now I'm starting to hallucinate, and see imaginary people! So I gotta talk to this asshole about what he wants me to do, but then I got these other voices telling me everything I do is stupid and I'm completely worthless and I can't even fucking write something that makes any fucking sense! I'm just ready to say fuck you all and fuck this letter!” Lux ranted angrily and then he fell into silence and brushed away his tears very broodingly. He pulled out a cigarette and tried to light it but his hands were so shaky that he couldn't get the lighter to work. He got frustrated quickly and slammed the lighter onto the desk with one hand and dropped his face into the other hand and cried again. Remington took his own hand and sparked out a small flame and held it up for Lux. Lux peeked out at it and glanced at Remington with his sad icy pale blue eyes. Remington gave him a reassuring smile and offered the flame to him more. Lux used it to light his cigarette then smoked nearly half of it in just a few long shaky drags.

  “Thanks.” Lux choked out. Remington extinguished the flame and continued to rub his back. Lux seemed to be very distracted now.

  “Lux?” Remington said meekly. For some reason he wanted Lux's attention.

  “Sorry.” Lux said mildly.

  “Don't apologize.” Remington said softly. Lux looked at Remington now through his watery eyes.

  “I get overwhelmed sometimes. I think I am sinking now.” Lux said, looking full of despair.

  “Sinking?” Remington questioned.

  “Yeah…..I have bipolar disorder. I have highs where I am completely manic with lots of energy, then I have lows where I sink into depression.” Lux said. “I am definitely sinking right now. I was trying to get the letter finished before I sank. Now I won't have the energy or desire to work on it. I give up. I am going to sleep.” Lux said suddenly looked very sad, as if he was destroyed completely. He finished his cigarette and got up from the desk and walked over to the bed and began to pull off some of his clothes until he was only in his boxers. Remington watched very keenly and suddenly felt heat flush his cheeks. Lux was very attractive. He was lean and muscular and had a very soft pattern of body hair that crawled up his abs then up to his chest, his thick arms were lined with veins, and his shoulders were wide and strong. He had thick thighs and wide caff muscles and a thick muscular triangle shaped back. Now that he had removed his clothes Remington could see his package was very sizable, and nicely outlined in his tight athletic boxers. He sure was nice to look at. Lux slipped into the blankets and covered himself up all the way to his chin. Remington wandered over to the bed and worked up the courage to ask what he wanted to ask.

  “Lux?” Remington said meekly.

  “Mm?”

  “Did you really see someone else in the room?” Remington asked.

  “Yes……I don't know……Maybe? Probably. I haven’t decided yet.” Lux's answer was very confusing.

  “How?” Remington asked.

  “How? How what?” Lux asked, peeking over the blanket at Remington.

  “How can you see someone that I cannot see?” Remington asked.

  “Maybe he likes me more than you.” Lux began to sound mildly amused. “Ugh, I can't explain it okay. I have schizophrenia.” Lux said softly.

  “I don't know very much about schizophrenia.” Remington said.

  “Most people don't.” Lux sat up slowly. “I knew something was different about myself when I was in junior high school. When I got into high school it was hard to ignore what was happening. Sometimes I thought it was real. I still do actually. These voices I hear….they’re there for a reason……it gets overwhelming because sometimes they are louder than everyone and everything else. It makes my life difficult. It makes people afraid of me. Sometimes people even want to hurt me because they are afraid of me.” Lux said.

  “What do you mean?” Remington wanted to know so much more.

  “When I was in prison most of the other prisoners were creeped out. They would see me talking to the voices or doing things because of the voices, and they would get aggressive and want to fight me. There was one guy who if he saw me talking to nobody, he would try and force me to shut up, and pull some illegal weapon on me. When we would be in the yard he would find me and get his gang of friends to keep me off the equipment, basketball court, the gym or whatever. I wasn't allowed to be there until all his crew left. Sometimes they would take a few pillow cases and dropped their shoes or bars of soap, whatever else that had any solid weight to it so they could beat me with it. Doesn’t leave much evidence behind, no blood, no real bruises, but it fucking hurt. Other times they would do even worse things to me, depending on what opportunities they had at any given moment. What was worse, some of the guards thought I was creepy too, so they wouldn't do much to stop anyone from bashing me around.” Lux explained. He looked very hurt by this memory.

  “That's terrible Lux.” Remington said coming closer to the bed and sitting down very close to Lux. Lux looked at him cautiously.

  “I've always been an outcast. Vezaias was the only person I've ever been friends with. It's only because Vezaias insisted that he be my friend. I am definitely not good at making friends.” Lux said. He was crying silently now. “I was just a punching bag, or worse sometimes I was….” Lux cringed. He started to crumble. Remington reached out wrapping his arms around Lux.

  “You don't creep me out at all Lux. I really like you. I hope you start to feel like I'm your friend.” Remington said, rubbing his back again. He lifted Lux's chin up trying to make eye contact with him.

  “Maybe I can…..I'm just a little scared….” Lux said softly. He looked very worried.

  “Scared of what?” Remington asked softly.

  “Why am I feeling like this? Is someone making me feel like this?” Lux mumbled and his face was reddening.

  “What are you feeling Lux?” Remington was curious. Lux's icy blue eyes shifted to the bed bashfully.

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  “Um, well……I don't know how to explain it… You like me for some crazy reason. I am always alone, and not because I want to be. I got used to it but I actually don't like to be alone all of the time. I want you to stay here and don't leave me.” Lux said

  “Really?” Remington said. He felt his heart ache for Lux.

  “Really, but if you don't want to, I understand.” Lux looked away now.

  “Lux….” Remington began. He wanted to do more now. It was confusing and exhilarating. Lux wasn't paying attention again, but then eventually he slowly drew his eyes back to look at Remington.

  “They said you are perfect, just like Vezaias. I could never expect to have someone like you interested in me. Perfect people belong with other perfect people, and you are absolutely beautiful.” Lux said as his face lit up deep red he leaned closer to Remington as if to examine him closer. Remington blushed. He could remember what it felt like to believe everyone else was perfect when he himself felt like a trainwreck.

  “Lux, I think you are gorgeous. In fact it's sort of making me want to……” Remington trailed off. Lux only looked curious.

  “Want to…..?” Lux coaxed. What did he want to do? Remington brushed away the painful feeling.

  “Want to stay with you….” Remington said meekly.

  “Demons shouldn't invite angels into bed with them.” Lux mumbled. “Maybe you shouldn't stay after all.” He looked very cautiously at Remington.

  “I am definitely no angel Lux.....” Remington said. His voice was thick with anticipation. “….and I don't want to leave now.”

  “Why?” Lux asked.

  “Maybe I really am trying to fill the void Vezaias left behind, maybe I found something to help me move on.”

  “I think it might be both.” Lux said seriously.

  They were quiet for a moment. “Lux?”

  “Mm?”

  “Can I read one of your not perfect letters?” Remington asked softly.

  “Huh, why?” Lux hummed in bewilderment.

  “Just curious. I want to see why they aren't perfect enough.” Remington said. Lux didn't seem to be paying attention again.

  “Ugh, well at least I would know for sure right?” Lux groaned. He was quiet again but only for a short moment when suddenly he jolted as if he was frightened by something then looking towards the door in surprise.

  “Alright! Alright! Shit!” Lux shouted, then he pulled Remington to the side, got up, and sat at the desk, then lighting up a cigarette. He dug around in the garbage while Remington sat on the bed and waited until Lux had found a crumpled paper and smoothed it out as much as he could then he handed it to Remington.

  “It's not perfect, so it probably sounds stupid.” Lux said, exhaling smoke and leaning back in his chair looking a bit nervous. Remington read over the scribbles of words more than once.

  “I think I know why you aren’t satisfied with these suicide letters.” Remington said softly.

  “Why?” Lux asked quickly.

  “Well for one, you aren't really writing this letter to anyone. You are just talking about how you going to kill yourself in a general sense. I think that maybe…….” Remington paused and looked up at Lux. “…..maybe you really don't want to die. Maybe you are actually trying to find a reason why you should continue to live.” Remington said seriously. Lux looked struck for a moment. “If you keep writing letters and finding something imperfect about them, it's your excuse not to kill yourself.” Remington continued. Lux didn't say anything, he only looked stunned for a long time. Eventually he reanimated by taking a drag off his cigarette and tapping the ashes into the ashtray. “I don't want you to die either Lux.” Remington said finally. Lux was no longer paying attention.

  “Lux?” Remington said in concern. He didn't acknowledge Remington at all. “Lux I'm sorry if I said something wrong.” Remington said. Lux finally shifted back to look at Remington.

  “I appreciate your insight. You are probably right.” Lux said softly. He looked very sad again. He then turned away and leaned back in his chair. Remington sat with Lux for a long time. He didn't seem to want to socialize anymore and looked as if he was deep in thought.

  “I've been thinking about your situation.” Lux said mildly. Remington perked up at this highlight.

  “Vezaias always did things very purposely. He made it so that you will have a difficult time trying to figure out how to free this guy, and that means these people wont kill you in the hope that someday you will figure it out. By trapping this guy in a delusion he gave you life security. He was protecting you.” Lux said looking very serious. Remington looked struck now. It made sense, Vezaias was very insistent that he try and get back on the group’s good side, by doing whatever he could to convince them not to kill him, but even so this protection couldn't possibly last forever.

  “Remington! Wake up!” A voice shouted. Remington was suddenly ripped away from the bedroom, and the void by the sudden jolt of his name waking him. He opened his eye and cringed in pain now that he was conscious again, the throbbing of his face was crushing him.

  “Ughh what?” Remington groaned and rolled to look with his only remaining eye to see who had woken him.

  “Get up, we need to talk to you.” It was Demetri. He looked angry again. Remington knew it would be a better idea just to do what he said. He sat up and cupped his face in his palm and waited for the conversation to begin. Skyler also looked unhappy with him and he started to feel scared that they both might attack him or something.

  “What do you want?” Remington asked anxiously.

  “We went to Reality and talked to Dem about what has been happening. He didn't want to believe it, and he asked to see you. I told him it wasn't safe, and I wouldn't let him come to see you.” Demetri said seriously. Remington suddenly looked hurt by this.

  “Sure, good idea, because I would totally hurt my best friend.” Remington said sourly.

  “Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't! Do you think it would be smart for us to take that chance?!” Demetri snapped at him. Remington jolted at the tone and shifted away from Demetri.

  “Is that all you came to tell me?” Remington asked meekly.

  “Dem said there is now a police investigation to find out where Ziona is. They think she was kidnapped after she left theater practice. We think you know where she is. Tell us the truth, we will find out from Sigil if you are lying.” Skyler said very seriously. Remington was trying not to panic now over the answer. He shut his eye and gathered the nerve to answer honestly.

  “After Zex and Sigil talked to us. Vezaias knew Ziona was waiting for me in the lobby. He told me not to be rude to her, and to indulge whatever it was that she wanted. So I went out to the lobby and she was there and she pounced on me and we had sex on one of the benches in the lobby. That's all she wanted, to fill the void temporarily with me to replace my brother. Once she was finished, Vezaias took advantage of her vulnerable state, and captured her. She is trapped just like Maxwell is.” Remington said solemnly.

  “So she is alive?” Demetri asked quickly.

  “Probably.” Remington said.

  “You have to figure out how to set her free.” Skyler said firmly.

  “Why, so she can return to forcing herself on me?” Remington said looking irritated. Demetri jumped forward and threw his fist as hard as he could, bashing Remington in the jaw and knocking him off the bed. He landed with a painful thud to the ground. He immediately cringed in pain and flopped back and forth a few times as his face pulsed like a heart beat.

  “BECAUSE TRAPPING HER LIKE THAT IS FUCKING WRONG!!!” Demetri screamed at him. He lunged to attack Remington again but Skyler grabbed him and held him back.

  “I'm sorry!” Remington cringed. “She just never gave a fuck about hurting me! She knew I didn't want her, but she didn't care! I was just too damn nice to turn her away! She was taking advantage of me! I think that's why Vezaias trapped her! Nobody else took this seriously!” Remington sobbed. “He knew that she was hurting me! He knew I couldn't stop her! He did it to protect me!” Remington sobbed. Demetri softened and stopped trying to advance to attack him. “She would corner me and beg me for sex! Then call me by my brother's name! Because I look like him! It was fucking with my mind!” Remington continued to cry for a few minutes. “I was already dealing with the reality that I had killed my own father for killing my brother. Then that bitch had to show up and make me pretend to be him just so she could catch a few moments of fucking relief!”

  “I had no idea this was happening to you.” Demetri said solemnly.

  “Of course you didn't! Do you think I was going to go around telling anyone about it! I was completely ashamed of this! Now you fucking know!” Remington cried. “Besides, Skyler knew she was doing this to me.” Remington cringed.

  “I did, but I didn't realize she was taking advantage of you that much. I knew it was intimate so I tried not to watch it thoroughly.” Skyler said solemnly. “I'm sorry I should have helped you stop her.” Skyler added, trying to apologize.

  “I don't want your fucking apology.” Remington snapped. Demetri and Skyler glanced at each other.

  “Remington, we still have more questions.” Demetri said finally.

  “Get on with it then.” Remington said with a shaky sigh. He didn't bother to try and sit up.

  “What happened to Vincent? I talked to him after the concert, before Lux showed up. I told him what happened to Ava. He said he was going to confront Vezaias about it then we were going to contact him to see what he could find out, but he has been missing since then.” Skyler said very seriously. Remington was now angry.

  “So that's why he wanted to talk to Vezaias! Because of you! He demanded to know what happened, but Vezaias refused to tell him, so he pulled a gun on him! Of course that was the wrong fucking thing to do! So Vezaias told him he wasn't the one who killed Ava, and that it was me! So he aimed the gun at me! I had no choice but to disarm him! Vezaias took the gun and shot him twice then locked him away like the others!” Remington was half shouting and very angry.

  “Remington…” Skyler trying to shush him. Remington retracted quickly and held his face painfully but soon it overwhelmed him and he was unconscious again.